It’s Time to Upgrade Your Business Network

A Modern Approach to Commercial Networking

In 2015, a study from Softchoice found that more than half of U.S. businesses have outdated networks. For many business owners, commercial networking is very low on the priority list, so upgrades consistently get pushed to the backburner in favor of more immediate company concerns. Before you know it, your network is in need of a serious revamp. If that sounds like your company, continue reading to learn about the risks of keeping your network outdated and how an upgrade can help your Berne, IN business run more smoothly, efficiently, and securely.

The Dangers of Working with an Outdated Network

An outdated network isn’t a huge concern until something happens. Here are some of the most common risks associated with obsolete networks:

Data Loss: If your network hasn’t been set up with appropriate disaster recovery measures, a damaged server could mean that you lose vital company data forever.

Network Outages: Network outages happen, but in most cases, your IT department can have you up and running in a few minutes. But with older networks that are no longer supported by the manufacturer, you could easily run into problems that take days to resolve, leaving you without network access.

Security Breaches: Network manufacturers consistently release updates to their devices as new network security risks emerge. However, if your network is outdated, you’re likely using components that are no longer supported for manufacturer maintenance. This leaves your company’s network exposed to security threats.

Incompatibility with New Tech: There have been a lot of great innovations in business technology in recent years, but companies with obsolete networks might not be able to take advantage of them if their network devices don’t support the newer components.

What to Do Next

If you believe the dangers listed above are a possibility for your business, then you should start by assessing your current infrastructure. You may not need to upgrade every aspect of your commercial network, so it’s important to have a clear idea what needs to be changed. If you don’t have a full-time IT department, consider bringing in an outside consultant. Here are the areas you should evaluate:

Security: Does your business have strong firewalls, VPNs, antivirus protection, etc.? Your business’ routers, switches, access points, and other enterprise equipment should all work together to create cohesive safeguards against hacking.

Disaster Recovery: What happens to your company’s vital data if a server goes down? Your system should have built-in redundancy for protecting business-critical information.

Reliability: Can your employees count on having clear, uninterrupted access to the internet and server information all day, every day? Business operations shouldn’t be delayed simply because your network can’t keep up.

Ease of Use: How easy is it for your employees to use the business network? This goes beyond having instant access to internet from anywhere in the building. Your business phone system, teleconferencing equipment, conference room presentation technology, and more can all be connected into a single system that’s simple to use.

Make Upgrades a Priority in the Budget for the Upcoming Fiscal Year

A modern networking solution isn’t just something you should implement to avoid a data breach or server downtime. It can also help your company operate more efficiently and effectively by more easily supporting your employees’ work. They’ll spend less time frustrated trying to get the Wi-Fi to work in the conference room or attempting to navigate a complicated phone system, giving them more time to focus on revenue-generating activities.

If you think it’s time to evaluate your commercial networking system, contact Innovative Concepts Audio & Video. We are networking experts who can handle all of your business IT needs, from increasing network security to boosting your Wi-Fi coverage. To learn more, chat with us online or call (888) 279-2276.